Mosin-Nagant Mania!

Anyone else love these rifles? They have history and they have a certain battle-tested style to them with some of that purely functional charm that the Russians are known for. They are dirt cheap to buy, a real hoot to shoot, and ammo is everywhere. Big bore, low price, lotsa BOOM and quite adequate for deer if you need to justify your purchase with a practical reason. I have 2 M44's and I keep thinking of buying more, just because I'm sure in 10 years when the cost 300 bucks I will be kicking myself. Who else thinks these are the current "best buy" on the market?

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DMK

January 9, 2004, 11:07 PM

Who else thinks these are the current "best buy" on the market? I do! Cheap, tough, powerful, shoot cheap ammo. What's not to like?

I have at least one of each Russian model and a few Finn M39s. The Finnish rifles are a bit pricier, but still an awesome deal for the money when you factor in the better quality standards they had.

I just got an M-38, 91/59 and a 91/30 from AIM. All are in excellent shape. And the best part is together they cost less than $250. Most definitely one of the best bargains out there right now.

BowStreetRunner

January 9, 2004, 11:10 PM

fo' sho' one of the best bargains out there-bar none
BSR

Kalos

January 9, 2004, 11:28 PM

Love my MNs, no doubt about it. Looking at maybe picking up some Mojos for the 91/30, which seems to have the potential to be a damn fine shooter even with the irons. :D And I'm one of the oddballs who even thinks these guns -look- good... but I like the looks of SKSes and AKs as well, and can't stand frilly engraved guns with ivory grips... ;)

Cosmoline

January 10, 2004, 12:54 AM

I've shot all kinds of C&R rifles from Mausers to Arisakas, but the Mosins are my favorites. Part of the charm lies in their old-fashioned split bridge receiver and in the unique and (IMHO) attractive stocks. They're *different* from other rifles. Plus, ammo is cheap and easy to find. My current Mosin is an M39 made in 1967 using a receiver dating from 1894. The receiver was actually made in France at an arms factory that's been closed down for ages.

Zeke Menuar

January 10, 2004, 01:13 AM

New to the milsurp game. However my first hunting rifle was an M1895 Mauser.
I have a re-arsenaled M38 and a excellent original unaltered Hungarian M44. I am amazed at the fit and finish of the Hungarian rifle. Slick smooth bolt, great trigger, this will be a great shooter. There are more Mosin's in the works as soon as I can scrounge up more funding.

I want to thank my wonderful wife for giving me the M38 for Christmas and sending me down the slippery slope of milsurp collecting.

ZM

Sylvilagus Aquaticus

January 10, 2004, 01:23 AM

I've got 2 MN 44's. Bought a minty Polski for my wife, then had to get a Hungarian for myself because she won't turn loose of hers enough for me to shoot it.

Even the kids shoot it...they like the recoil and blast.

Regards,
Rabbit.

Kalos

January 10, 2004, 08:24 AM

Even the kids shoot it...they like the recoil and blast.

Mosin's made a recoil junkie out of me--part of why I bought my first M44 is that my only other firearm was a .22 Ruger. I wanted something that'd let me know when I shot it--and I got it! :D Gotta remember to dress appropriately, though--I hate to think what it'd have done to my shoulder had I took it rather than my K31 to the range last weekend... wearing a t-shirt and not even so much as a jacket over it. :uhoh:

LynnMassGuy

January 10, 2004, 08:46 AM

I agree! Everyone should get their C&R and buy em' up!! Oh, wait a minute, no you shouldn't. They're all MINE!! MINE I SAY!!!!

benEzra

January 10, 2004, 09:08 AM

And I'm one of the oddballs who even thinks these guns -look- good... but I like the looks of SKSes and AKs as well, and can't stand frilly engraved guns with ivory grips...
I agree on all counts!

I love my M38 Nagant, but my M44's bolt sticks shut after firing.
There's a visible rough spot in the chamber, so I guess I'll have to have the chamber polished.

Tropical Z

January 10, 2004, 01:06 PM

Even though i was complaining about the 91/30 i got a few days ago,ive had a change of heart.Yah, i can refinish the handguard and i wish the crest wasnt ground off but thats the history the rifle has seen.I was strutting around the house just yesterday with the bayonet attached.That rifle with bayo is gigantic!:what:

LynnMassGuy

January 10, 2004, 01:11 PM

I was strutting around the house just yesterday with the bayonet attached.

I thought I was the only one who did that!:)

9 m&m

January 10, 2004, 02:20 PM

I've got a m44 carbine. great little gun for the money. They are powerful accurate and reliable, although I know someone whos mosin went off in the house, went through the case, drumset, and out the second story window. :uhoh:

Okiecruffler

January 10, 2004, 05:54 PM

Definately my favorite, and I'm getting close to having one in every flavor (anyone know where I can find a Chinese 53 that hasn't been buggered up?). My son is building his collection now with 2 M44's and a 91-30. The Wife still thinks I'm crazy for running outside in the snow and stabbing a tree with the bayo of a 91-30. I guess I should have put some pants on.

Hutch

January 11, 2004, 03:57 AM

What's the deal with M53's? I have one, sans bayo, I got from a pawnshop. I really wanted a Russkie M44, but this is what they had, when I had the money. Are they more or less desirable, in comparable condition, to the M44's that they resemble?

Okiecruffler

January 11, 2004, 04:12 PM

I've heard that the 53's are alot rougher than the M44's, but I've never been able to handle one that wasn't bubbafied, so I don't know. Since they aren't coming in anymore, I would think they should bring a little more money, but when you can get M44's for $45 they would just about have to be more expensive.

wasrjoe

January 11, 2004, 04:13 PM

I love my M38. I'm not a fan of the 44's because they feel off-balance to me. I want to get a 91/30 now. :)

DMK

January 11, 2004, 04:33 PM

What's the deal with M53's? I have one, sans bayo, I got from a pawnshop. I really wanted a Russkie M44, but this is what they had, when I had the money. Are they more or less desirable, in comparable condition, to the M44's that they resemble? The '53s were made by the Chinese and are a lot less common than the Russian Mosin-Nagant variants. Mosin collectors want them to fill the hole in their collections. Rules of supply and demand say, if the demand is high and the supply is low, then the price goes up.

Since you can buy an immaculate M44 for about $50 these days, if your rifle is unaltered, you might do well selling the '53 and buying a '44.

Parke1

January 11, 2004, 05:07 PM

I have a completely stock Chinese Type 53 that I got a couple years ago. I didn't have any idea of what I had until just this past fall, when I stumbled across an article all about them.

Okiecruffler, I too have heard in the past that the 53's are rougher than the M44's, but after examining mine and others like it, I have yet to come across an M44 that's as nice as my 53, or most of the others that I've seen. The thing is built like a tank, and deadly accurate. Mine will shoot tiny little groups all day long, regardless of ammo type.

Should I rub some salt in the wound? I only paid $59 for mine. :evil:
The only other gun buy that I've had that comes close to rivalling this one in value is the Type 99 Arisaka that I bought. Still has the mono-pod, aircraft sights, and intact Chrysanthemum (sp?), all for $79.

I wish you good luck in your hunt for a 53, because I know mine won't be coming up for sale any time soon.

-Parke1

LynnMassGuy

January 11, 2004, 05:12 PM

The Wife still thinks I'm crazy for running outside in the snow and stabbing a tree with the bayo of a 91-30. I guess I should have put some pants on.

ROFLMAO!!!!:)

mixleader

January 11, 2004, 07:44 PM

I own a model M38 and a 91/30 and I agree that they are fun to shoot. It's hard to beat the initial price and the price of ammo for these weapons. I also feel the history in these pieces as I handle them and wonder if they were truly part of WWII or if they just sat in some armory. With the enormous muzzle blast of the M38 in particular, I definitely call mine "Noisy Nagants". I also agree that there is a certain charm about the looks of these rifles. Of course, I can't remember ever seeing very many truly ugly weapons.

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